2017 PDC Worlds day 12 preview: Taylor takes on old foe Huybrechts

The Spider (6/4) may be 3-2 up in head-to-heads and saw off in-form Mensur Suljovic in the last round, but Gurney has won the last two meetings and has looked the better player this tournament so far. SuperChin is, therefore, 4-1 to edge it 4-3.

Dave Chisnall v Jelle Klaasen

This is perhaps the closest duel on paper, as both are top 10 ranked arrowsmiths and have reached the latter rounds of multiple major tournaments.

Chizzy (8/13) has been the better player on tour over the last few years, but Klaasen (13/10) has had more success in World Championships – having won the BDO edition in 2006 and got to the semis here last year.

But again, it’s difficult not to back the favourite in the match, Chisnall, who will be looking to reach the quarters at Ally Pally for the first time. In a match special, he is 4/1 to win, hit 10+ 180s and throw a checkout of 124+.

James Wade v Michael Smith

Young-gun Smith has defied his poor form during the second half of the year to beat both Ricky Evans and Mervyn King to get to the third round.

However, he looks to be finally unstuck by Wade, who has been highly impressive so far without breaking too much sweat.

The Machine (4/11) has beaten Bully Boy (11/5) six times in their eight meetings, including most recently 10-5 in the Champions League of Darts. Wade is 10/3 to win 4-2 in sets on this occasion.

Evening session

Peter Wright v Ian White

Onto the evening fixtures, 46-year-old duo Wright (1/7) and White (9/2) lock horns for a place in the quarters.

Despite Snakebite is still yet to win a major, he’s one of the most consistent stars on tour, having reached at least the semis in four premier events in 2016.

The Scotsman’s 9-5 record over White and overall confidence on the big stage should be enough to overcome Diamond again. Back him at 6/4 to be King of the Oche (win match, get most 180s and highest checkout).

Phil Taylor v Kim Huybrechts

All-time great Taylor (1/4) and 2012 quarter-finalist Huybrechts (3/1) battle it out to face Van Barneveld – and both know they have dominant records over the Dutchman.

But The Power is also leading the Hurricane 10-1 in meetings, while he edged the Belgian 4-3 at this very stage in the 2014 Worlds.

It could be that close again, with Taylor’s powers slightly waning, so why not back the 16-time world champion at 5/1 to win by that scoreline once more?

Michael van Gerwen v Darren Webster

Of late, it seems that if anyone is going to beat Van Gerwen (1/33), Webster (12/1) is the man to do it.

Demolition Man, who works in property maintenance by trade, has picked up his arrows this year, strolled onto the stage and shown the big guns how it’s done.

Nothing seems to phase Webster, and he even gave MvG an almighty scare in the Players Championship semis last month by leading 6-0 – before going on to lose 11-8.

Demolition Man’s match odds do look very enticing, but Van Gerwen somehow came through the last round despite Cristo Reyes averaging over 106, so back the dominant Dutchman at 6/1 to triumph 4-2.

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